Fasting: Day 16 – Entertaining Friends While Fasting

By: Ron Lagerquist

Physical Side

Two glasses of honeydew juice; two cups of veggie juice with kale added; two grapefruits and two oranges juiced. No rain, there is a promise of sunshine. Going walking and cycling with a close friend who is staying for the day. He has hypoglycemia, which creates an interesting dilemma. Hypoglycemic’s need to eat many times throughout the day or their blood sugar drops and they become weak and light-headed. So I am writing this on a picnic table outside Wendy’s while he is devouring within. Normally I have no problem being in the presence of food while fasting, but I am on holidays and for some reason I feel apprehension about the thought of watching him eating, surrounded with the smells of burgers, fries, and Frosties. It’s good to be aware of your weaknesses.

Spiritual Side

My energetic friend who has come visiting is not in a fasting state. He’s a well-trained marathon talker, and when he gets worked up into a froth, which is most of the time, he adds volume to speed. Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla. By the last bla I wanted to die. After the word-assault, in a rare moment of catching his breath, I took my opportunity, put my hand on his shoulder and said, “Dude, you have to slow down and chill, you’re killing me.” We laughed about it, and after that he made a serious attempt to talk slowly and quietly.

Here are some tips when having to deal with the non-fasting world. If someone is visiting, let them know ahead of time you are fasting. They can make the choice to come or not and you will not feel obligated to be in a compromising situation. Before they come, plan how they will be fed. Like I said, normally I could cook a great meal with no harm done to my fast, but not this time. Some of you first times fasters my not be able to go there. It’s vital you know your weakness. Most people who have never fasted before are secretly or vocally going to think you’re crazy. You’re going to see it in their eyes, or they may just plain tell you, and you have to be able to handle that, or their visit could become the tipping point for failure.

Even though my friend had so much energy that it could be exhausting just being in the same room, he was encouraging and interested in my fast. And by this evening, I can see that my peaceful, focused state was having a positive effect on his normally frantic temperament, and he stated as much. Nonetheless, I am going to sleep well tonight.